Through my lens: the magic of Malta
An island fit for a Queen.
When it comes to choosing a European holiday destination, Malta is hardly the first country to come to mind, being frequently overshadowed by the promise of dolce far niente in Italy, or the island-hopping and the ancient beauty in Greece.
Admittedly, Malta is a relatively small island - it only covers an area of about 316 square meters (or 122 square miles), and houses a population of just over 540,000 people. But despite its size, Malta is so packed with history and beautiful architecture that it’s bound to knock your socks off, if you give it a chance.
To be honest, I did not expect much more than a family-friendly holiday destination, and some great Meditteranean food when we first picked Malta for our next holiday. If I’d done my research, I’d have known a lot more about Malta’s close ties with Britain, their shared WWII history, and its historical importance going all the way back to the crusades. But I guess I wanted to be surprised for once.
Often referred to as ‘an open-air museum’, Malta really has it all if you’re a history lover. Home to some of the oldest archeological sites in the world (predating even the pyramids of Egypt), underground war rooms that served as the Allied War headquarters during WWII, and over 360 churches, there’s something for everyone.
For a small island, Malta definitely bursts with colourful heritage. If you visit any of the traditional fishing villages, you’ll find these beautifully painted boats with the Eye of Horus on the side - an ancient maritime tradition believed to ward off evil, and help the boat “see” any danger ahead.
Another remnant of the past that’s impossible to miss are the quintessentially British red phone booths and place names referring to either saints or British monarchs. The fact that everyone in Malta speaks English doesn’t just make it easy to get around the island; it also enables you to truly connect with the locals, who are more than happy to retell the stories of the past.
For a couple of years, just before her royal duties took over, Queen Elizabeth II called Malta her home. And not surprisingly, she’s said to have recalled her time here as one of the happiest periods of her life.
Malta’s capital, Valletta, is the smallest European capital, but it’s built to convince you that size doesn’t matter. The best thing you can do to get a glimpse of this beautiful city is to just wander off in any direction, and get lost in the streets that all lead to the sea. That’s right! The fortified capital is located on a small peninsula, and its streets are organised in a grid resembling the streets and avenues of NYC, so no matter which way you walk, you’ll end up with breathtaking sea views.
Even though I’m always a bit wary of the traditional tourist hotspots, one of the places that really is a must-see is the popular St John Co Cathedral. While deceivingly ‘normal’ on the outside (it’s just a church, after all), the inside of the cathedral is literally covered in gold. Besides its lavishly decorated interiors, you can admire one of Caravaggio’s masterpieces here, as well as the intricate marble floors (which, turns out, are actual graves of the knights of the Order of St John - I promise it’s not as creepy as it sounds).
There’s a lot to be said for getting lost in Valetta’s charming, sun-lit alleys, but truth be told, it’s possibly even more beautiful by night. When the busy streets filled with street vendors and buskers suddenly grow quiet and the crowds dissipate, only the otherworldly beauty of its architecture remains.
One of my favourite experiences in Malta was attending a play in Teatru Manoel, one of the oldest Baroque theatres in Europe. Built in 1731, it’s not only fully functioning until this day, it also offers an unforgettable experience of joining a performance with the locals, who all flock outside during the interlude to have a casual drink together out in the streets.
While I’m not exactly a history buff, I couldn’t help being amazed by the stories the island offers to tell to those willing to explore a little further. Just a choppy boat ride away from the capital, you can immerse yourself in the medieval beauty of the Three Cities – Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua – getting gloriously lost in their significantly quieter, yet equally picturesque streets and breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour.
Looking over the fortified walls of Fort St. Angelo, a former military hospital of the knights of the Order of St. John, you’re bound to understand why Malta so often served as a filming location, from Troy to the Game of Thrones.
Photographically, my first visit to Malta in 2018 reignited the spark that’s already been there - even though I was just fooling around with my phone at that point. Spending a week in a place where both the urban and the natural landscape simply take your breath away at every step definitely contributed to my decision to, eventually, invest in a proper camera that’d accompany me on my travels. Little did I know!
Together with its smaller counterparts, the islands of Gozo and Comino, Malta offers more than a fantastic weekend escape or a family holiday - if you let it, it’ll charm you with both its unusual beauty and historical grandeur. But at the end of the day, when you get tired of sightseeing or soaking up history, there’s a lot of beauty to be found in its blue seas, too - without trying too hard, you might just find your slice of paradise.
Thank you for reading! Hope this post will inspire you to explore more.
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Nice photographs! The Blue Lagoon image is exceptionally well done!
I loved Malta, especially Valletta, but enjoyed Gozo even more - so much that after a day trip there we ditched our accom and moved over for the remainder of our stay! The slow pace, the beauty… much more my style. Thanks for a great post!